There is Only One Plot: These People are Horrible

I saw an early showing of the documentary Banned Together at the Provo Library. I hope you'll be able to catch a screening of it.  The movie is definitely worth seeing, even though I found parts of it discouraging. Like, people are banning books in 2025? 

They sure are. You won't believe how bad things are in terms of right-wing infiltration of school boards. Moms for Liberty, in particular, is horrible. They're totally funded by pacs supporting DeSantis and the like. I think it's so gross. Normal people should run for school board and get involved with book selection committees and library boards. If you are a normal person and are inclined to do anything like that at all, you should.  This podcast is one of my favorites and tells stories about the kinds of things that are getting done (appalling things) on school boards at local levels: firings, book banning, school closings, curriculum overhauls, etc. Gag. I can't believe it. 

At any rate, something poignant stood out to me from the documentary. The progressive people who don't want books, generally, to be banned are prepared and competent. They follow the rules at the public meetings. They plan what they're going to say and are articulate with good reasons to support their claims. 

The people on the other side of the argument are none of these things. They break the rules for civil engagement at the public forums, they rant, they go over time, they make only unfounded emotional appeals, they haven't "done their homework," they haven't read the books they want banned, generally. 

We are responsible for what we are persuaded by and it's a moral failing to be persuaded by these people. It's a moral failing to be persuaded by Trump's grievance rhetoric. It's actually quite dumb to believe this stuff and to give weight to these unfounded claims.  

oooooh it just makes me so mad! 

It's simply not true that "both sides" have good points and blah blah. They don't. One side is against competence, expertise, and clear thinking. 

I have an old red Moleskine notebook where I have jotted down blogging ideas for the past 20 years. In it I wrote, "There is only one plot: Things are not what they seem." It's by Jim Thompson, a writer I don't know. I can't remember what I was going to write about it. Who knows! Those were carefree times. 

Since Trump became president I've become humorless and single minded. Do you like it? I don't. I'm a drag.

But it's not my fault. Since Trump was elected there is only one plot: These people are horrible.